TRUCKLOADS of passengers from the Are,are and West Kwaio regions bound for Auki yesterday morning never made it due to a flooding Laulana River at Radefasu.
Laulana Bridge at Radefasu connects Central Kwara’ae to the West Kwaio and West Are’are constituencies.
The bridge was burnt after results of the recent national general elections emerged, by angry voters.
That affected thousands of people living on the far end of the south road, because their access to and from Auki was through the bridge.
A detour was made which saw vehicles crossing the river, but that obviously failed to work when the Laulana River burst its banks during yesterday’s heavy downpour.
About five pick-up vehicles with maximum loads of passengers bound for Auki found themselves stranded on the other side.
A passenger Bobo Misach said all the vehicle could not cross the river which resulted in a long wait.
“There was no choice, because it was also a far distance to return. So everybody waited from 6am to 10 am for the river to rescind.
“As such, most of the passengers who were to catch ships to travel to Honiara yesterday morning failed to make it on time.”
Many angry passengers made it across but the distance to Auki was too far for them to make it on time to sell their market produce and catch ships travelling to Honiara.
“Why are calls for the Member of Parliament responsible Jackson Fiulaua, the province and the government, to fix this bridge, all fell on deaf ears?
“We are badly affected and want this bridge fixed on time. Do they know the population up in the West Kwaio and West Are’are regions that depend on this bridge on a daily bases?
“If you have ears, listen, come and fix this bridge.”
By WILLIAM EKOTANI
In Auki
